A statue of the 18th century friar Junipero Serra was toppled and graves vandalized at the Carmel Mission in California, police said Sunday, just days after the missionary was canonized by Pope Francis.

The person or persons responsible struck Saturday night, damaging gravesites and signs and splashing green and white paint on doors, Carmel Police Sgt. Luke Powell told the Salinas Californian. MORE

Moments ago Carl Icahn decided to use his Shareholders’ Square Table as the venue in which to respond to his quasi-nomination for Treasury Secretary (he politely declines), and also to opine on Trump’s warning that the market is “one big fat bubble” (he agrees). MORE

“I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.” John 5:43 (KJV)

Transcribed: Bergolio: “Thank you for your kind words.  Once again, following a tradition by which I feel honored, the Secretary General of the United Nations has invited the Pope to address this distinguished assembly of nations.  In my own name, and that of the entire Catholic community, source 1:20 minutes in

Translated from Danish
Alaska: It has attracted shock as officials have brought to attention this past week of hundreds of dead walruses on a beach area in the northwestern part of Alaska. SOURCE

Fans of tattoos and extreme body modification descended on the capital of Ecuador this weekend for the annual Quito Tattoo Convention. MORE PICS 

The baton was officially transferred Monday to the world’s new sole superpower — and Vladimir Putin willingly picked it up.

President Obama (remember him?) embraced the ideals espoused by the United Nations’ founders 70 years ago: Diplomacy and “international order” will win over time, while might and force will lose.

Putin, too, appealed to UN laws (as he sees them), but he also used his speech to announce the formation of a “broad international coalition” to fight ISIS in Syria and Iraq. MORE

Pope Francis met with victims of clerical sex abuse today and promised to hold those responsible accountable.

The 30-minute meeting was with five adults who had suffered sexual abuse as minors by the clergy or members of their family or teachers, according to the Vatican. The meeting, held on his final day in the United States, also included a family member of each victim.

Here is what Francis told the victims: MORE

The Internet once dubbed her the world’s ugliest woman. But Lizzie Velasquez has spent the last nine years proving to the world that she’s the most beautiful, the most inspiring and the most courageous. MORE

In a major shift in immigration patterns over the next 50 years, Asians will have surged past Hispanics to become the largest group of immigrants heading to the United States, according to estimates in a new immigration study.

The study looks in detail at what will happen by 2065, but the actual tipping point comes in 2055. MORE

My viewers may remember a few months ago in June, when a VOLCANIC PLUME  appeared in this very same field of volcanoes. MORE

A review of the coordinates of the earthquake shows that the epicenter is below a large water reservoir. MORE

China’s president on Saturday pledged billions in aid and said Beijing will forgive debts due this year in an effort to help the world’s poorest nations, as world leaders begin to seek the trillions of dollars needed to help achieve sweeping new development goals.

President Xi Jinping spoke at a global summit that on Friday launched the non-binding goals for the next 15 years. MORE

“Face The Nation” host John Dickerson on Sunday asked Boehner about the conservative House coalition with which Boehner was constantly feuding, and whether they had unrealistic expectations.

“Absolutely they’re unrealistic!” Boehner blurted out. “But the Bible says beware of false prophets. And there are people out there spreading noise about how much can get done.” MORE

“If the Americans take the appropriate steps and set them free, certainly the right environment will be open and the right circumstances will be created for us to do everything within our power and our purview to bring about the swiftest freedom for the Americans held in Iran as well,” Rouhani, who is visiting New York for the UN General Assembly, told CNN. MORE

It’s getting to the point that only Traditionalists will be without a woman priest. Not sure about Rome.

On a rural road just after daybreak, villagers young and old kneel reverently before a single file of ochre-robed women, filling their bowls with rice, curries, fruits and sweets. In this country, it’s a rare sight. MORE